Culpeper, VA – Culpeper County Department of Economic Development won two Excellence in Economic Development Awards from the International Economic Development Council. ChooseCulpeperFarms.com was awarded Gold in Specialty Website while Be A Culpeper Local Week won Bronze for Special Event.
Additionally, ChooseCulpeperFarms.com is a finalist for Best in Show, the highest accolade given within the 2024 Excellence in Economic Development Awards program. There are just 14 finalists out of the 238 awardees across 26 categories.
“We are immensely proud of Choose Culpeper Farms. When we first had the idea, we knew it had to be our unique answer to agriculture development. Others in our profession have quickly seen how this solution is innovative, and they have viewed it as one of the best programs in the world this year,” said Bryan Rothamel, Economic Development Director.
ChooseCulpeperFarms.com was designed to celebrate Culpeper County’s rich agriculture community year-round. The website is the main component of connecting Culpeper residents with the local farmers. Also available on the website are resources to assist farmers in business development.
Be A Culpeper Local Week, a now annual event, launched in August 2022 to celebrate local businesses. It’s a one-of-a-kind occasion that encourages residents to support the small businesses that drive Culpeper’s local economy, create jobs, and enrich the vibrant sense of community—while also earning exclusive event swag like t-shirts and canvas totes. The 2024 event saw a customer completion increase of 480% and an economic impact of over $40,000.
“These awards are a powerful acknowledgment of our commitment to innovative, community-driven economic development. ChooseCulpeperFarms.com and Be A Culpeper Local Week were designed to elevate and connect our local businesses and agricultural community in a way that fosters sustainable growth and local pride,” said Winona Pritts, Culpeper’s Business Development Coordinator who manages both programs. “It’s incredibly rewarding to see our efforts recognized not only for their economic impact but also for their role in strengthening the fabric of Culpeper.”
Every year IEDC looks specifically for economic development organizations, government entities, initiatives, and programs that have demonstrated consistent, exemplary performance in the economic development profession, leading the execution of projects that have a significant impact on revitalizing communities, and playing a major role in shaping and improving the practice of economic development.
Rothamel and Pritts will be acknowledged and honored at the IEDC 2024 Annual Conference in Denver, CO, September 15-18. The Best in Show winner will be announced at the annual conference.
About Culpeper County Department of Economic Development
Culpeper County Department of Economic Development works to grow and expand the Culpeper County economy through business retention and attraction, small business assistance and agriculture development. The department’s award-winning programs include Be A Culpeper Local and Choose Culpeper Farms. Learn more about the department on ChooseCulpeper.com.
About the International Economic Development Council
The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) is a non-profit, non-partisan membership organization serving economic developers. With more than 4,300 members, IEDC is the largest organization of its kind. Economic developers promote economic well-being and quality of life for their communities by creating, retaining, and expanding jobs that facilitate growth, enhance wealth, and provide a stable tax base. From public to private, rural to urban, and local to international, IEDC’s members engage in the full range of economic development practices. Given the breadth of economic development work, our members are employed in various settings, including local, state, provincial, and federal governments, public-private partnerships, chambers of commerce, universities, and a variety of other institutions. When IEDC succeeds, its members create high-quality jobs, develop vibrant communities, and improve the quality of life in their regions. Learn more at www.iedconline.org today!